The Mating Intent-mobi (4 page)

People started milling near them and a couple was headed for the juice cooler where they stood. The loud voices, the crush and the smell of too many bodies, damp earth and plants clawed at her. She pushed away from the cooler and her knees buckled. Panic filled her and she grabbed at Gabriel.

“Whoa.” He caught her before she hit the floor and lifted her into his arms.

She wanted to protest that she wasn’t weak, but the grayness kept clouding her vision. Hooking her arms around his neck, Sienna closed her eyes, willing away the dizziness.

“Easy now, pixie. I’ll take care of you.”

“Don’t need taking care of,” she murmured, but the words came out sluggish. Fatigue claimed her and she rested her head against his broad chest.

“You’ve always been a lousy liar,” he murmured into her ear as he carried her through the store toward the exit.

Gabriel took her outside, and eased her onto a stone bench overlooking rows of palm saplings. She breathed in the clean, fresh air, grateful for the open space and quiet.

Sienna struggled to recover her composure and equilibrium. She hated relying on others.

“Need a minute,” she muttered.

Squatting down, he put a hand on her knee. “Take all the time you want.”

There wasn’t enough time. Each day the powerful darkness inside her threatened to take over, controlling her fully. Only the spring of Danu would restore her. Then she’d become open to the benevolent powers of their universe; the good, light magick that would enable her to return to her king.

No one in the royal circles wanted a dark Elf in their midst. It was like having a cockroach invade the banquet table.

As a Shadow Elf, she’d spent her entire life trying to balance her light magick against her dark magick. It was a constant struggle, but staying celibate and free to focus on her duties kept her dark side at bay. Then twenty-five years ago she betrayed her king and her people by sleeping with Gabriel and breaking her oath.

I am dark, and dark is bad, she thought, guilt clogging her throat. Gabriel shattered all her willpower. He was like chocolate to a woman dieting. Rich, tempting and sinful.

Very, very bad for her.

But oh, so very tasty.

She leaned back, enjoying the cool shade and the breeze playing with some strands of hair that had escaped its tight bun. “Your place has changed, Gabriel.  You never had this many customers, only a few commercial businesses as clients. You’ve always gone out of your way to avoid interacting with Skins. And now you’re catering to them.”

He joined her on the bench. “Skins have money, and they’re important. We have to learn to live alongside them, or we die.”

“Isn’t that philosophy a bit drastic?”

“No more drastic than the blizzard of development since you left.”

“We’ve all had to compromise. But you never struck me as a shifter who likes money and this business smells like cold cash. And what’s the deal with all the hired help? In particular, that mouthy Fairy? ”

Sienna opened her eyes and regarded him.

“Willow?” He tilted his head and the hint of a smile touched his full lips as if he knew her thoughts.  “Willow is harmless. Water Fairy. She was assigned here a few weeks ago by Cael to help me guard the Everglades after she effectively stopped an evil sprite from poisoning a mountain creek. Originally from Montana. I took her into my clan and employed her.”

A hairy-eared goblin walked past, saw them and gave a little bow. “Break time, Gabriel. Thought I’d grab a snack at the store. I left Odin 2 watching the perimeter.”

“Two hours. And don’t eat the customers, Odin,” Gabriel called after him as the little goblin scurried into the store.

This was news. “Since when have you decided to have goblins patrol your territory?”

“Odin and his twin brother, Odin 2, are good guardians. I need them to protect the land.”

“From what? Invasive cat tails?” Sienna asked, more alert now that her head no longer felt stuffed with cotton wool.

He bent his head to regard her, and a hank of dark gold hair spilled into his face. Gabriel pushed it back with an impatient hand. “You’ve been gone twenty-five years, pixie. A lot has happened in that time. A lot of changes, and many of them very, very bad.”

“Speaking of which…” Sienna pulled her cell phone out of a jeans pocket and handed it to him. “Look at the last photo. Do you know him?”

His expression tightened as he gazed at the snake man. 

“That’s Rex. Shifter who lives in Okeechobee. He was down here in my territory visiting some cousins living along the river.” Gabriel gave her back the phone. “Where’s his body? His mate and their seven young will want a proper burial.”

She was afraid of that. “There’s nothing left, but I can give you the GPS location where he died so they can dig up the earth and scatter it as they wish.”

“What were you doing at the river?”

Sienna hesitated. He had a finger on every water source across south Florida and he’d eventually discover the truth. “Trying to find a channel that would take me to the spring of Danu so I could sneak in the back way.”

“Ah, my most inventive pixie. I wouldn’t expect less of you.”

His stark admiration made her flush with pride. Gabriel was one of the few in her life who had ever handed her a compliment without expecting something in return. They had shared much during their earlier time together.

“But all I found was the river, and a funhouse straight out of Nightmare on Elm Street.” Sienna told him about both Rex’s and the mangroves’ odd behavior.

His expression remained shuttered as she talked, but Sienna watched his eyes. Gabriel had shifter eyes that flickered with emotion. Now they turned dark gold, signaling the rise of his panther.

“So what the hell is going on, Gabriel? What’s infecting the land around here?”

Glancing around, he shook his head. “Not here. We need absolute privacy. You feeling better?” His gaze sharpened as he studied her. “Color’s returned to your cheeks, but you’re still slightly pale.”

“I live in Oregon. Tanning isn’t on my agenda.”

Giving her a lopsided grin, he unsnapped the radio hanging on his leather belt and spoke into it. “George?”

A female voice crackled over the radio. “He’s out on property, Gabriel. Can I help you with something?”

“Come to the pond. I need you to give the keys to George to lock up at closing time.”

“Be right there.”

Gabriel pocketed the radio. “Be nice to Willow. She’s a little frail.”

“I won’t bite.”

“Ah, as I recall, darling,” he murmured, “you definitely bite. You left a mark right on my…”

“Stop it.” She shook her head. “We’re not headed there.”

“Too bad. It was rather enjoyable.”

Unable to think of a sharp retort, Sienna fell silent, glancing at the paved walkway as the petite Willow scurried toward the pond. For such a tiny thing, she certainly had speed. Maybe she flew. The thought of a Fairy taking wing and startling the customers, like a garden ornament come to life, amused Sienna. But a sharp stab of pain shot through her temple, and she winced. Since yesterday, every time she held a positive or cheerful thought, the darkness inside her reacted.

Gabriel’s expression tightened. He cupped her face, his broad, calloused palm warm against her suddenly chilled cheek. “It’s very bad for you. I heard what you did to cleanse the earth of Terithen’s evil.”

“Word gets around fast.”

“Fairy grapevine, courtesy of Willow. You know how Fairies love to gossip.”

Sienna nodded, closing her eyes and centering on chasing away the pounding. “Lately, it’s worse. Feels like a railroad spike hammering into my head.”

“Because you’re fighting it so hard. This will help.”

He brushed a kiss against her pounding temple. It was a mere press of his mouth, but the pain suddenly eased. Sienna opened her eyes, grateful and confused.

“Thanks. Gain a new ability since I last saw you?”

Eyes the color of jade regarded her solemnly. “It happened after you left. I felt it after we made love and it grew stronger when I finally decided to test out my new power.”

“New power?”

“I can call out a person’s magick, use it to strengthen my own, and heal people.” His grin filled with mischief, Gabriel held up his hands. “Care for more healing? These can make you feel very, very good, especially if you’re naked.”

A flush heated her face. Before she could respond, Willow reached them. She ignored Sienna, focused on her boss.

“Gabriel, you needed me?”

“Willow, meet Sienna. Sienna, Willow.”

The Fairy darted a nervous look her way.

“We’ve met,” Sienna said briefly.

Gabriel fished a set of keys out of a jeans pocket and handed them over. “Find George, give him these and tell him to take over the store for me. You can help him close up.” 

“I can close up myself,” Willow protested. “You don’t need George. Why won’t you trust me? I’m not a child.”

He gave her an indulgent smile. “No, of course you’re not. But George knows the routine. I have to take Sienna over to the house. She’s an Elf trying to avoid the dark side of life. Have to get her inside before sunset.”

Sienna smirked, wincing at another stabbing jolt of pain.

“I’m s-sorry for being rude earlier,” Willow stammered. “Are you a dark Elf?”

“I’m not fully dark,” she protested.

Keys jangled in Willow’s trembling hand. “Dark Elf. Bad things happen with dark Elves.” Her gaze fell to the knife at Sienna’s belt.

Her chest tightened. “Sorry about earlier. I have a short temper these days.”

The Fairy nodded, then gave Gabriel a nervous look. “Is she staying here?”

“Don’t worry. Sienna won’t hurt you. Go, find George and give him those keys,” Gabriel said slowly, as if speaking to a child.

Resentment flashed on Willow’s face. “I will, but I’m the one who will do most of the work. How many times must I tell you, Gabriel? When will you listen to me and let me close the store by myself?”

To his credit, Gabriel held his temper. “I’ll listen when you cash out and don’t come up short. Do it tonight and ask George to supervise and if he approves, you can close by yourself tomorrow night.”

The Fairy hurried off, fleet of foot but with no wing display.

“A little touchy, that Willow,” she observed. “Why do you keep her around?”

“She’s good with the plants. As a water Fairy, she keeps them well-soaked.”

Sienna took a deep breath and forced herself to stand, waving away Gabriel’s hand.

“I can walk on my own.”

“You need help,” he said gently. “It’s no shame in having to admit it.”

“Sure. Like you’ve ever asked for help.”

Gabriel gave her a pointed look and she flushed, remembering how she’d come to his territory. “That was different. Your land needed the assistance. Not you.”

“I am intimately connected to the land, pixie, as are you. What affects the earth, affects both of us.”

“Right now I feel clogged with cattails. No, something much nastier.” Something that itched to grab hold of her soul, much as the cattails had pushed aside all the shallow water. Only this something would do far worse than cause birds to go hungry.

If the darkness remained, she’d hold enough power to fry the entire Everglades to a crisp, killing all plants and wildlife for miles. In fact, that would be a piece of cake, compared to the breadth of Terithen’s true power. With a single spell, the Fae King’s son could have destroyed all life from here to Kansas. Sienna shuddered.

Deep inside, the darkness smiled at the thought.
Destruction is good.

Screw you. You’re not controlling me
, she silently vowed.

Gabriel gave her a critical look when she leaned on him. “You’re still wobbly on your feet. Maybe you’d better bunk with me tonight. I’ll keep you from falling out of bed.”

“How generous of you. Thanks, but I’ll take the floor. Safer there.”

Gabriel grinned, cupping her elbow as they headed for the pathway connecting his house to the nursery. She’d never share his bed again. She’d suffered the consequences last time she made the mistake of sleeping with him.

This time, Sienna resolved to never again break her vow of celibacy. She would not be lovers with Gabriel.

No matter what.

Gabriel’s house had changed as much as the store had.

A large, two-story structure, it boasted hardwood floors, cool mint-green paint, and colorful furniture suited to a Florida lifestyle. No dark colors anywhere. Even the kitchen with its stainless steel appliances had white cabinets and light granite countertops.

“No beanbags, or bookcases made from milk crates. Though the impoverished college student look suited you, this is much nicer. More comfortable.” She dropped onto a pastel-colored sofa in the living room.

Gabriel joined her. “I grew up.”

“Grew up, got a job, became responsible. All you need now is a suit and tie. And shoes.” She glanced at his bare feet.

He wriggled his toes. “Another thing we have in common, pixie. We like the earth beneath our toes, feeling the grass as we race through the open fields.”

“As long as that earth doesn’t have broken glass or used needles and there’s no cow manure in the open fields.”

A small smile touched his mouth. “I missed your feisty mouth. Twenty-five years is a long time, Sienna. You never called, you never wrote…” He put a hand over his heart. “I was deeply hurt, waiting by the phone, watching it grow cobwebs.”

Guilt winked inside her.

“I’m sure you were counting the seconds until I returned to you,” she said dryly. “Pining for me until you threatened to waste away, lonely and broken as a country western song. For the, oh, five minutes you missed me after I left.”

“The memories of you weren’t sufficient. I kept your picture under my pillow and kissed it every night.”

And then he sobered. “I did miss you, Sienna. You were good for me.”

She had no reply. Instead, she studied the plants upon the white oak bookshelves, the ivy in clay pots. Gabriel could coax life out of arid soil. It’s what had drawn them together.